The school announcement Monday morning about Arquevious Crane stunned students and staff at South Gwinnett High.

Crane, a junior football player, had been seriously injured during a game last week and remained hospitalized Monday in serious condition, after undergoing surgery at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite. The popular athlete, who plays JV and varsity, apparently suffered a spinal cord injury.

Arquevious Crane was injured as he ran the ball last Thursday in a junior varsity game at the school against Buford High School. He underwent surgery Friday and again Monday.

Senior Seyi Fashoro, like some other students, didn't learn of the devastating news until arriving at school Monday.

"I just saw him in the hallways the other day, walking," said Fashoro, who cried when she heard the news. "He's my friend, a very cool person. It's just a shock that he might not ever walk again."

Crane was injured as he ran the ball last Thursday in a junior varsity game at the school against Buford High School. South Gwinnett coach John Small declined to offer specifics of the injury, but told WSB-TV that Crane was injured when a Buford tackler hit him from the front. Small said there was "nothing malicious about it or out of the ordinary," but added that he knew something was wrong from the way Crane fell to the ground.

Small said that when he saw Crane over the weekend, he was "upbeat and strong." When he was carried off the field Thursday, teammate and close friend Michael Bradford said the last words he said were "Get physical."

South Gwinnett students describe Crane as a likeable classmate and teammate who plays with fierce competitiveness.

"I'm staying strong because he kept me positive when I was injured," said Bradford. " ... That's just how he is. We're dedicating the rest of the season to him."

The team's booster club set up the Arquevious Crane Assistance Fund through Wachovia Bank to assist the family.

Neither coaching staff at South Gwinnett nor hospital officials would confirm the exact nature or cause of Crane's injury. In the event that Crane is paralyzed, he could be covered extensively by the Georgia High School Association's catastrophic injury policy, officials said. In addition to some other benefits, the policy pays up to $5 million in medical expenses beyond the first $25,000, for students who suffer life-altering sports accidents.

South Gwinnett students had raised about $850 through their efforts for the family as of Monday.

"It's been a shock to everyone," said classmate Najee Travis, who said he shared a language arts class with Crane. "Teachers were crying."

News of the injury struck one Comet backer particularly hard.

"I'm hoping that there's a recovery for him and he's not like I am, in a wheelchair," said Jim Rhodes, South Gwinnett's stadium announcer, who was left paralyzed after a car accident in 1988.

Should Crane suffer extended paralysis, though, Rhodes said: "It's not the end of the world. ... He can still have a full life."

Dr. Scott D. Boden, director of the Emory Spine Center, said the most common reason for spinal cord injuries in football is improper tackling form, but Crane was the ballcarrier. He added that in other cases, the player's spinal canal is smaller than normal and "physical contact could nudge the spine in a different direction and cause this type of event."

The varsity team is scheduled to play this Friday night at home against Parkview. The JV team plays Thursday at Shiloh.

"We have made it clear [to teammates] it is in God's hands now and that we have to take strength from God so we can have strength to give 'Q,' " said Small.

CONEY ISLAND BROOKLYN, IS WHERE STARS ARE BORN!!!!!!
JULY 29, 2006 all of CONEY ISLAND's FINEST IS IN ATTENDANCE...
Derrick Brown, Norm Richardson,Stephon Marbury, Sebastian Telfair,Jamel Thomas,Chris Taft,Quincy Douby, Lance Stephenson, Dwayne "TINY" Morton just to name a few... These are all products of this enviroment.
This celebrations is held every year in memory of STEVEN "BRO" RODRIGUEZ. This memorial is in its 11th year and it continues to bring the best out in basketball. Coney Island is known for producing some very tough players and they look forward to competing against who ever decides to show up on this special day... Carey Gardens 23rd and Surf has had some of the top players in the country grace these courts for this event. This section of Brooklyn is set all to itself on the water and the people here are very close and protecting. This is a community that really gets behind their product... Over the past couple of years Coney Island has produce some all star prep players along with some NBA draft picks. SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!!!!!

'''Chris Taft''' another Coney Island neighborhood kid (born March 10 1985 in Brooklyn, New York) is an NBA player. Chris Taft is 6'10", and weighs 261 pounds according to the Golden State Warriors

NCAA career

Chris Taft played his short college career at the University of Pittsburgh after graduating from Xaverian High School in Brooklyn. Taft had a very strong freshmen season in which he won the Big East Conference Rookie of the Year Award, many believed he would have a very strong career at Pittsburgh. He set the all-time Pittsburgh season record for field goals made as a freshmen (162). As a freshman, Taft earned Third Team All Big East Honors.

After returning to the team for the 2004-2005 season, scouts projected Chris Taft to have another spectacular season. In 2004-2005, Taft averaged 26.5 minutes per game, 13.3 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game, 1.7 blocks per game, and shot 58.5% from the field. Taft had a great statistical season, but did have some struggles. Many scouts criticized Taft for "not trying" and not playing to his full potential. Taft also had trouble shooting free throws, which hurt Pitt down the stretch, especially in close games, like the loss to the Bucknell Bison in the non-conference season. After Pitt gained another berth into the NCAA Tournament as a 9 seed where Pitt suffered a loss to the University of the Pacific in the first round, Taft announced his entry into the 2005 NBA Draft. Shortly after announcing his departure from Pitt, Taft hired an agent and indefinetely lost his NCAA eligibility. Taft went to the Chicago Annual Predraft Camp which began his post-college career.

NBA career

Chris Taft entered the NBA draft as a projected first rounder, but he fell into the second round; picked by the Golden State Warriors 42nd overall.

Taft recently finished his rookie season for Golden State. Taft played in only 17 games last season as a result of back spasms -- suffered in a summer league game while landing after dunking -- that ended his season in early January. In the limited playing time, Chris averaged 2.8 points and 2.1 rebounds in 8.5 minutes a game.

HIGHLIGHTS
Named Honorable Mention All-America by The Associated Press as a senior.
Named America East Conference Player of the Year as a senior in a vote of conference coaches.
Also a First Team All-America East and First Team NABC All-District II selection.
Finished career as Hofstra's sixth all-time leading scorer with 1,677 points.
Made most three-pointers in school history (192).
Helped team to NCAA Tournament each of last two seasons.
At Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, averaged 11.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.0 steals in 25 minutes.

AT HOFSTRA
As a senior, led Hofstra in scoring (16.7 ppg).
Also averaged 6.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists.
Scored a game-high 20 points in the America East Championship win over Delaware.
Scored 12 points vs. UCLA in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Scored a career-high 34 points in an 89-83 OT win over Maine.
Followed up that performance with 17 points and career-high 16 rebounds in win over New Hampshire.
Tallied 22 points in Hofstra's first win over local rival St. John's.
Made 16 of 18 free throws in a win over Maine.

As a junior, finished second on the team in scoring (16.2 ppg) to Speedy Claxton (Philadelphia 76ers).
Also averaged 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists.
Named Second Team All-America East and All-Metropolitan Second Team.
Led Hofstra with 65 three-pointers.
Scored in double figures in 29 games.
Led the team in scoring on 10 occasions.
Scored 27 points in a win over conference rival Delaware.
Scored a game-high 26 points, including 20 in the second half, in the America East championship win over Delaware.
Scored 20 points in first round NCAA Tournament loss to Oklahoma State.
Scored 23 points vs. Rutgers and 20 vs. Fordham, earning MVP of the ECAC Holiday Festival.

As a sophomore, named Second Team All-America East.
Led the team in scoring with 13.9 ppg.
Also averaged 5.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists.
Led the team with 59 three-pointers.
Led team in scoring 14 times.
Scored a season-high 25 points vs. Northeastern and 25 points vs. Vermont in the America East Tournament.
Scored a team-high 23 points in win over Georgia Tech.
Scored 20 points at Maryland.
Led team with 16 points vs. Hartford, St. John's and Penn.

As a freshman, played in all 31 games, with 14 starts.
Averaged 8.7 ppg and 3.8 rpg.
Scored a season-high 23 points vs. Colgate.
Averaged 10.0 ppg and 4.2 rpg in conference play.

SACRAMENTO KINGS:
Selected by Sacramento as an undergraduate out of Rutgers with the 19th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft … Signed a multi-year contract with the Kings (7/3/06) … Is the sixth player in franchise history to don number 8 … Only Rutgers player ever drafted by the Kings … First Rutgers player selected in the first round of the NBA Draft since 1983 (Roy Hinson) … One of nine early entry candidates selected by Sacramento in the first round over the past 11 NBA Drafts (others - Corliss Williamson in 1995, Peja Stojakovic in 1996, Tariq Abdul-Wahad [formerly Olivier Saint-Jean] in 1997, Jason Williams in 1998, Hedo Turkoglu in 2000, Gerald Wallace in 2001, Kevin Martin in 2004, and Francisco Garcia in 2005) … 2006 Toshiba Vegas Summer League (TVSL): Averaged 13.3 ppg (.436 FG%, .400 3pt%, .765 FT%), 2.8 rpg, 3.0 apg, and 1.00 spg in four games … Ranked 15th in the LVSL in assists … Scored 10-plus points in three contests and 20 or more points once … Led the team in assists on two occasions … Tallied 20 points (6-10 FG, 2-3 3pt, 6-6 FT), two rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 30 minutes vs. Toronto (7/9) … Scored 14 points (4-10 FG, 1-4 3pt, 5-5 FT) to accompany three rebounds, two assists, and one steal in 24 minutes vs. New Orleans (7/7).

2005-06 COLLEGE SEASON:
Averaged 25.4 ppg (.462 FG%, .401 3pt%, .847 FT%), 4.3 rpg, 3.1 apg, and 1.76 spg in starting all 33 games he played as a junior for the Scarlet Knights … Led the Big East Conference and finished sixth nationally in scoring, earning First-Team All-Big East honors, the Haggerty Award as the All-Met Division I College Player of the Year, and All American accolades from Associated Press (Honorable Mention) … Also named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association District II Player of the Year … Scored a career-high and Carrier Dome record 41 points (15-32 FG, 9-17 3pt, 2-2 FT) at Syracuse (2/1/06) … Named Big East and ESPN.com National Player of the Week after posting 36 points (12-20 FG, 4-8 3pt, 8-10 FT), 11 rebounds, and three steals in a win at St. Mary’s (12/3/05) … Named to the Big-East honor roll on 10 occasions, more than any player in the conference … Scored in double-digits in every game, including 20 or more points in 24 of Rutgers’ final 29 contests.

COLLEGIATE CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Averaged 17.8 ppg (.432 FG%, .393 3pt%, .820 FT%), 2.9 rpg, 2.7 apg, and 1.27 spg in 95 games (started 64) … Finished career ranked sixth in Rutgers history in scoring and holds the school record for points scored in a single season (839 in 2005-06) … Ranks second in Knights’ annals in career three pointers made (251) and attempted (646), eighth in field goals made (581), seventh in field goals attempted (1,344), fifth in three-point percentage, sixth in free throw percentage, and 11th in steals (119) … Led the team and finished 11th in the conference in scoring and assists after averaging 15.1 ppg and 3.6 apg as a sophomore (2004-05) … Reached double-figures in scoring in 25 of 29 games, including three straight 20-plus point performances against Charlotte, St. Mary’s, and Penn State to open his sophomore campaign … Tied a Rutgers single-game record with eight three-point field goals vs. Arkansas- Monticello … Played in 33 games (started 5) as a freshman (2003-04), averaging 12.5 ppg (.425 FG%, .426 3pt%, .826 FT%), 1.9 rpg, and 1.7 apg … Earned Big East Rookie of the Week honors on three occasions … Posted double-digits in scoring 20 times and tallied 20 or more points in five games … Set the school record for points by a freshman with 35 vs. Iowa State in a 2004 NIT Semifinal victory … His .426 shooting from three-point range ranks sixth on the Rutgers all-time single season list.

HIGH SCHOOL:GRADY HIGH SCHOOL / More Prep
Dubbed “the best long-range shooter in the class of 2003” and rated the No. 6 shooting guard in the nation by Rivalhoops.com as a fifth-year senior at Thomas More Prep in Brooklyn (2002-03), where he averaged 20.6 ppg … Played one season at Grady High School in Brooklyn (2001-02) where he led the New York City Public School Athletic League in scoring at 35.6 ppg … Named First-Team All PSAL by the NY Daily News and NY Post after eclipsing the 60-point mark on two occasions during the 2001-02 season, including one game in which he shot 18-of-21 from three-point range.

Brown dominates as PC topples Duke
By Joe Macenka, Associated Press writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Duke Blue Devils had a hard time putting into words how dominant Derrick Brown was against them Sunday. Providence coach Pete Gillen didn't.
"He's a warrior," Gillen said after Brown had a career-high 33 points to send the Friars to a 98-87 victory over Duke in the second round of the NCAA tournament's Southeast Regional. "He gets that tunnel vision in his eyes and it doesn't matter if the Russian Army is in front of him. He's going to shoot. He wouldn't be denied today."
Brown, who made 12 of 16 field-goal attempts and had 10 rebounds, helped the Friars overcome foul trouble by first-team all-Big East forward Austin Croshere.

"I can't think of an adjective to describe Brown," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "Today he was a great player. We lost him at times. Brown was just everywhere."
Tenth-seeded Providence (23-11) advanced to the round of 16 for the first time since the 1987 Friars made it to the Final Four.
"I just think our kids were possessed. This was our chance," Gillen said. "We're in Camelot, and we want to stay around another week."
Second-seeded Duke (24-9) was looking for a chance at its eighth Final Four berth in 17 years under Krzyzewski. Instead, the Blue Devils failed to make the round of 16 for the fourth time in five years.
Jeff Capel closed his Duke career with 26 points, including 19 in the second half.
"It hurts to even think that I'll never be able to play with these guys again, to think that I'll never be able to wear the Duke uniform again," said Capel, one of several Duke players in tears after the game. "I don't want to take it off right now."
Croshere, coming off a career-high 39 points in an opening-round victory over Marquette, found the going much tougher Sunday, when he spent four-plus minutes on the bench in each half because of foul problems. Croshere wound up with 21 points on 7-of-16 shooting, including a pair of airballs on 3-point attempts and a baseline jumper that banged off the side of the backboard.
But his troubles were eased by the performance of Brown, a 6-foot-6 senior who joined Providence as a junior-college transfer and needed just two seasons to score 1,000 points for the Friars.
"He's always pursuing the ball," Capel said. "He's a garbage man, and I mean that as a huge compliment. He does it as good as anybody we've played all year. Croshere may get the accolades, but Derrick Brown was their best player today."
Rebounding continued to be a problem for the Blue Devils, who came in having won nine of 12 since switching to a smaller lineup in late January. Providence had a 43-24 edge on the boards. The Friars had 15 offensive rebounds, including six by Brown.
"I never thought about going to a bigger lineup," Krzyzewski said. "If that's why we lost, it's my responsibility. It's my responsibility anyway, but if that's the reason, then I take full responsibility."
Croshere picked up his second personal foul less than seven minutes into the contest. He was assessed his fourth on a charging call with 16:14 remaining in the game and went to the bench.
Croshere came back in with 11:57 left and the Friars leading by a point. Providence responded with an 11-5 run, getting a layup and two rebounds by Brown in the surge, to go up 72-65, the Friars' biggest lead to that stage.
But Capel hit a 3-pointer to start a 9-2 run for the Blue Devils. Capel added two more baskets in the surge, which tied it at 74 with 5:34 remaining.
Croshere put the Friars ahead to stay when he banked in a 14-footer from the right wing at the 5:13 mark. The basket started an 11-1 run that decided it.
Brown followed with a layup on a difficult pass across the lane by Jamel Thomas, and Brown capped the run with a fast-break layup that made it 85-75 with 2:50 left.
The Blue Devils got no closer than six the rest of the way.
Thomas added 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists, and the Friars also got 12 points and nine assists from God Shammgod.
Trajan Langdon and Roshown McLeod contributed 15 apiece for Duke and Chris Carrawell had 12.

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Photos by The Associated Press
Top: Derrick Brown, slamming one home near the end of the game, was the big man in Providence's stunning victory over second-seeded Duke. Brown led all scorers with 33 points...

"The winners in life think constantly in terms of I can, I will, and I am.
Losers, on the other hand, concentrate their waking thoughts on what they should
have or would have done, or what they can't do." - Dennis Waitley